Mechanism of Epimedium intervention in heart failure based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.

To analyze the pharmacological mechanism of Epimedium in regulating heart failure (HF) based on the network pharmacology method, and to provide a reference for the clinical application of Epimedium in treating HF. Obtaining the main active ingredients and their targets of Epimedium through TCMSP (Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform) database. Access to major HF targets through Genecards, OMIM, PharmGKB, Therapeutic Target Database, Drug Bank database. Protein interaction analysis using String platform and construction of PPI network. Subsequently, Cytoscape software was used to construct the "Epimedium active ingredient-heart failure target" network. Finally, the molecular docking is verified through the Systems Dock Web Site. The core active ingredients of Epimedium to regulate HF are quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, etc. The core targets are JUN, MYC, TP53, HIF1A, ESR1, RELA, MAPK1, etc. Molecular docking validation showed better binding activity of the major targets of HF to the core components of Epimedium. The biological pathways that Epimedium regulates HF mainly act on lipid and atherosclerotic pathways, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and chemoattractant-receptor activation. And its molecular functions are mainly DNA-binding transcription factor binding, RNA polymerase II-specific DNA-binding transcription factor binding, and neurotransmitter receptor activity. This study reveals the multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway mechanism of action of Epimedium in regulating mental failure, and provides a basis for the clinical development and utilization of Epimedium to intervene in HF.

Construction and analysis of heart failure diagnosis model based on random forest and artificial neural network.

Heart failure is a global health problem and the number of sufferers is increasing as the population grows and ages. Existing diagnostic techniques for heart failure have various limitations in the clinical setting and there is a need to develop a new diagnostic model to complement the existing diagnostic methods. In recent years, with the development and improvement of gene sequencing technology, more genes associated with heart failure have been identified. We screened for differentially expressed genes in heart failure using available gene expression data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and identified 6 important genes by a random forest classifier (ASPN, MXRA5, LUM, GLUL, CNN1, and SERPINA3). And we have successfully constructed a new heart failure diagnostic model using an artificial neural network and validated its diagnostic efficacy in a public dataset. We calculated heart failure-related differentially expressed genes and obtained 24 candidate genes by random forest classification, and selected the top 6 genes as important genes for subsequent analysis. The prediction weights of the genes of interest were determined by the neural network model and the model scores were evaluated in 2 independent sample datasets (GSE16499 and GSE57338 datasets). Since the weights of RNA-seq predictions for constructing neural network models were theoretically more suitable for disease classification of RNA-seq data, the GSE57338 dataset had the best performance in the validation results. The diagnostic model derived from our study can be of clinical value in determining the likelihood of HF occurring through cardiac biopsy. In the meantime, we need to further investigate the accuracy of the diagnostic model based on the results of our study.

MRI classification and imaging findings of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the MRI classifications and imaging findings of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor(DNET). Methods MR images of 34 patients with pathologic confirmed DNET of Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital were retrospectively reviewed in this study. The classification was made according to the number of pseudocysts, scope of involvement, morphology and location. Results MRI appearances of DNET were divided into three subtypes: cystic‐like, polycystic‐like and diffuse type. Twelve cases had cystic cortical, including front lobe (5 cases), temporal lobe (5 cases), parietal lobe (2 cases). These cases presented quasi‐circular or oval shape, with hypointense on T1WI and strongly hyperintense on T2WI. T2‐FLAIR was observed hyperintense ring sign in the tumor periphery and the cystic content was close to CSF but having the largest difference to that of CSF, which signal was higher than CSF. Twenty cases were polycystic‐like, front lobe (7 cases), temporal lobe (7 cases), parietal lobe (5 cases), occipital lobe (1 case). In these 20 cases, they had slightly hypointense on T1WI and strongly hyperintense on T2WI. Located in the cortex and subcortical matter, with wedge shape, gyriform or triangle shape.On T2‐FLAIR, internal septation and hyperintense"ring sign"were observed. Two cases were diffuse type, bilateral (1 case), unilateral (1 case). In these 2 cases, diffuse lesions involving multiple areas with hyperintense ring and internal septation on FLAIR, including subcortical white matter, deep nucleus and periventricular area. Conclusions The MR appearances of DNET are variable. Understanding the MR imaging type of DNET might improve the MR diagnosis of DNET.

Correlation study of MRI features and pathological typing in focal cortical dysplasia / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To explore the correlations of the MRI findings and its pathological typing in the focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) .Methods MR images of 74 patients with FCD confirmed by operation and histopathologic examination were analysed retro‐spectively .MRI findings with FCD were divided into three subtypes including radial band type ,hyperintensity type and mild type . The correlation of the FCD MRI findings and pathological typing is analysed .Results In 74 patients with FCD ,there were radial band type in 12 cases ,hyperintensity type in 32 cases ,and mild type in 30 cases respectively .M RI finding of radial band type FCD showed a tail of increased T2WI/FLAIR signal tapering down to the lateral ventricle .Hyperintensity type FCD showed increased T2 WI/FLAIR signal in the cortex and subcortical white matter ,accompanied with focal cortical thickening .Mild type FCD showed T2 WI/FLAIR subtle hyperintense signal in cortex with or without focal cortical thickening ,but there was no hyperintense signal in subcortical white matter .Most of radial band type FCD were ⅡB in pathology .Most of hyperintensity FCD were ⅡA and ⅡB .Mild type FCD was more found to beⅠA orⅠB .Conclusion Analysing MRI features would improve the accurate diagnosis of FCD and help to infer the pathological type .

MRI features and pathologic types of benign meningiomas and their correlation with tumor recurrence / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To determine MR manifestations and pathologic types of benign meningiomas and their relationship with tumor recurrence.Methods There were 218 patients (160 females,58 males; age range 4-79 years) with benign meningiomas in the study,including 31 recurrent meningiomas (recurrence group)and 187 primary meningiomas (primary group).All patients were proved by postoperative pathology.Differences of pathological types and MRI manifestations between the recurrence group and the primary group were evaluated by using x2 test and rank sum test.Logistic regression analysis was performed by taking tumor recurrence as the dependent variable,and age,gender,vital structures involvement and pathologic types as independent variables.The recurrent time intervals were compared by rank sum test.Results There were 30 patients with intracranial vital structures involvement or extreintracranial communication tumors in the recurrent group,which was obviously higher than that of the primary group (61 patients).The difference was statistically significant (x2 =57.672,P =0.001).The tumors located in the skull-base and juxtasinus in the recurrent group were obviously more than those in the primary group,and difference was statistically significant (x2 =10.990,P =0.001).Multi-logistic regression analysis showed that the recurrent risk of benign meningiomas was elevated significantly only with vital structure involvement or extre-intracranial communication tumors (wald x2 =31.863,OR =3.820,P =0.001).The recurrent risk of dural sinus involvement was 3.820 times of cerebral artery trunk and cranial nerves involvement,and the risk of the latter was 3.820 times of the non-involved.There was no statistical difference between the two groups in pathology type,location,peritumoral edema,tumor morphology and tumor size.The relapse time of dural sinus involvement and cerebral artery trunk involvement in the recurrent group was 24(13 to 180) and 126(12 to 187) months,respectively.There was significant difference (Z =2.197,P =0.028).Conclusions It is more common that the recurrent benign meningiomas located in the skull base and juxtasinus.The recurrent risk significantly increases when benign meningiomas with vital intracranial structure involved or with extra-intracranial communication tumor.The relapse time of dural sinus involvement is possibly shorter than that of cerebral artery trunk involvement.MRI plays an important role in predicting tumor recurrence and prognosis of benign meningiomas.

MRI diagnosis of Rasmussen encephalitis / 中华放射学杂志

ObjectiveTo describe the MR features of Rasmussen encephalitis (RE).Methods The MRI of 10 pathologic confirmed patients (7 male,3 female,mean age 11 ± 4 years) with RE were retrospectively analyzed in this study.Routine axial,sagittal and coronal (perpendicular to the oblique long axis of the hippocampus) scans were obtained for T1WI,T2WI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)images. The location and degree of cerebral atrophy,gray matter signal changes,and the evolution of these findings were evaluated. Results Brain atrophy included the enlargement of lateral ventricle(8/10),temporal horn (9/10)and lateral fissure (9/10); widened sulci and small gyri in the isolateral hemisphere (7/10) ; atrophy in caudate and putamen nucleus (6/10).The cortical atrophy was extensive at late stage of the RE,and usually was hemispheric or involved more than two lobes.The signal changes included hyperintensity involving extensive cortical and/or subcortical regions (9/10). The follow-up MR study demonstrated the progression of brain atrophy and extensive signal changes.Conclusions RE usually presents in pediatric patients. The imaging findings included progressive unilateral brain atrophy,enlargement of lateral ventricle,lateral fissure and sulci,and small gyri with or without cortical T2hyperintensity.Deep nucleus atrophy may be involved in RE.